Twenty-three 2023 releases I loved and what reading mood to save them for
Noteworthy frontlist titles from an unprecedented reading year
Merry Christmas Eve to all who celebrate!
I am very excited for the next couple of days with my little one. I feel like she’s the perfect age for the holidays this year. She is delighted by everything, but doesn’t have expectation that can lead to demands and disappointments (you know, aside from the regular daily two-year-old demands and disappointments). Every night during Hanukkah, we’d go to light the candles and she’d say gleefully, “It’s still Hanukkah?!” When we told her about Santa she said, “That’s cool!” I know she’s going to be delighted by all the family time, the cookies, the special meals, and, yes, probably the presents most of all. And I’m looking forward to soaking it all up.
In that spirit, I’ll be taking a little bit of time off so you won’t get your regular Tuesday newsletter. Paid subscribers can expect an edition of Friday Mood Recs on December 29th and then I’ll be back with my typical Sunday newsletter on New Year’s Eve.
Before I get into this megalist of book suggestions, I wanted to share a couple last minute gift ideas for the extreme procrastinators out there! If there’s someone you just didn’t get to, these ideas make great and thoughtful gifts for anyone who enjoys books.
A book subscription. This is a great gift because it’s something people aren’t necessarily likely to buy for themselves. I’m partial to Vignette Books because they allow you to shop by mood and they send under-the-radar used books. They also gave me a 15% off code (Sara15) that you can use on a gift for yourself or a loved one. Book of the Month or Aardvark Book Club make great gifts if you’re less familiar with someone’s reading taste as each month they offer a curated selection of books your giftee can choose from. Of course another great option is to see if your favorite indie bookshop offers a subscription program. A lot of great shops have this option, and it’s a great way to support small businesses during and beyond the holidays!
A Libro.fm credit bundle. This is an especially great gift for new parents on your gift list or anyone you know who loves to read but struggles to make time for it.
A Bookshop.org gift card. Let you loved ones choose which best books of the year or anticipated 2024 releases they want to acquire with a giftcard that lets them support independent bookstores with the convenience of online shopping.
Twenty-three 2023 releases and what reading mood to save them for
And if you’re looking to spend some gift cards or holiday cash of your own, I’ve got you covered. These 23 new releases are all books I thoroughly enjoyed along with what reading mood or goal they best align with. I chose not to include any of my top 12 titles, but you can find those in this podcast episode and the corresponding shownotes. Remember, the books don’t disappear when the calendar turns and there’s still plenty of time to read the exceptional books this publishing year provided.
August Blue by Deborah Levy. For a hazy, beautifully drawn portrait of existential crisis amid the pandemic.
Company by Shannon Sanders. For a compulsively readable short story collection.
Cross-Stitch by Jasmina Barrera. For when you want a female friendship story told in a meaningful and nonlinear structure.
Doppleganger: A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein. For a truly inventive and illuminating examination of our delusional internet culture.
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad. For an unforgettable and provocative story about art as resistance.
Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon. For when you want to tap into your dormant inner scientist.
The Great White Bard: How to Love Shakespeare While Talking about Race by Farah Karim-Cooper. For when you want to tap into your inner dormant English major.
Greek Lessons by Han Kang. For a mesmerizing, almost dreamy study of the sadnesses in love and language.
The Guest by Emma Cline. For a WTF ending that will keep you theorizing for weeks.
The Hive and the Honey by Paul Yoon. For traveling centuries and continents within the span of a tight, exquisite short story collection.
How to Think Like a Woman: Four Women Philosophers Who Taught Me How to Love the Life of the Mind by Regan Penaluna. For when you’re feeling philosophical, but also balking at the sexism still alive and well in our world.
In Ascension by Martin MacInnes. For when you want a book that makes you work, but provides a truly stunning pay-off.
In Memoriam by Alice Winn. For a love story that manages to be both brutal and hopeful.
In the Orchard by Eliza Minot. For a stream-of-consciousness exploration of motherhood with an ending you’ll need to discuss.
Jewel Box by E. Lily Yu. For a collection of fantastical stories that range from the violent to the delightful.
My Last Innocent Year by Daisy Alpert Florin. For when you’re looking for a campus novel that feels both familiar and fresh.
North Woods by Daniel Mason. For a story that spans centuries and is filled with narrative surprises.
Sense of Wonder by Matthew Salesses. For when you need a “thinking man’s” sports book.
Speech Team by Tim Murphy. For when you want a heavy dose of 80s nostalgia.
Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein. For when you want a book that will force you to slow down and notice every detail.
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. For slightly cozy fantasy novel with mind-blowing world-building and a kick-butt female protagonist.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann. For a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction story that Martin Scorsese already secured the film rights to.
Western Lane by Chetna Maroo. For a slim and unusual exploration of grief and family.
This email contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. All book links take you to Bookshop.org. If you choose to purchase any titles from other outlets, please consider using my Amazon or Blackwell’s storefronts.
For questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing fictionmattersbooks@gmail.com or responding directly to this newsletter. I love hearing from you!
Happy reading!
Sara
Hi Sara! Since I can't message you on here or comment on the post related to this, I'm just going to comment here and hope you see it-- I was wanting to upgrade for the first time to be a paid subscriber of yours, but it isn't showing as 25% off. Could you help with that? Thanks so much!